French telecoms group Orange will invest more than €5 billion (US$5.4 billion) in Africa and the Middle East between 2026 and 2028, betting on the regions’ growth potential as its core European markets mature.
The investment forms part of a new strategic plan dubbed “Trust the Future”, unveiled to international media in Casablanca, aimed at expanding network coverage, boosting digital services and strengthening customer trust.
Under the plan, Orange intends to double its fibre customer base and deploy more than 15,000 new telecoms sites, particularly in underserved rural areas where connectivity remains limited.
Chief executive Christel Heydemann said the strategy centres on improving service quality and reliability at a time when demand for secure, high-speed connectivity is rising.
“In a world where digital complexity and risks are increasing, trust is becoming a decisive factor,” the company said in a statement, pointing to efforts to enhance cybersecurity, data protection and user experience.
Africa is central to Orange’s ambitions, reflecting both demographic growth and rising digital adoption. Mobile technology has become a key driver of economic activity across the continent, contributing 7.7 percent of gross domestic product, or about $220 billion, in 2024, according to the GSMA. That figure could climb to $270 billion by 2030.
The operator aims to attract more than 40 million additional 4G and 5G users by 2028. As of 2025, Orange had 179 million customers across 17 African countries and Jordan, including more than 90 million 4G users.
Fifth-generation services are already available in several markets, including Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, Senegal, Botswana and Madagascar.
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Beyond expanding connectivity, Orange is seeking to grow higher-value services, including mobile financial platforms, cloud computing, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, as competition intensifies in traditional telecoms markets.
The group is targeting double-digit growth in its business-to-business segment, particularly in IT services, while integrating artificial intelligence tools into both network operations and customer-facing products.
Africa and the Middle East have already become key drivers of the company’s financial performance. In 2025, the division generated €8.4 billion in revenue, up 12.2 percent, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation after leases (EBITDAaL) rose 13.9 percent.
However, Orange’s expansion comes against a backdrop of economic uncertainty. The World Bank said in its latest regional outlook that growth in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to hold at 4.1 percent in 2026, unchanged from 2025, but warned of mounting risks.
Rising costs for fuel, food and fertilisers, alongside tighter financial conditions, could push inflation higher and weigh on household spending, potentially affecting demand for telecom services.
Despite these headwinds, Orange is positioning the region as a long-term growth engine, seeking to capture a larger share of Africa’s expanding digital economy as connectivity and data-driven services continue to spread.
